Issue 90

Muscle News
What better way to mark October 7, 2016’s passing of Ford’s Australianmanufacturing than to shine the spotlight on some great servants and unsungheroes of the Blue Oval’s recent history.

Punter Pics
The family of the late Geoff Sharpe – a Ford works team mechanic duringthe factory squad’s golden era – share pics from their stunning archive.

Muscle Sport
A large and varied contingent of Australians descended on Laguna Seca forthe Monterey Motorsports Reunion – so did AMC. Back home, we ponderHRT’s new ownership and Supercars in 2018.

Muscle Maniac
The new Allan Moffat Mustang; Frenchy is famous in France; Monaro vsShelby in Auction Action; and Aussie Valiant exports to the Old Dart and theLand of the Rising Sun.

Muscle Mail
Readers react to last issue’s stories with news and views on rare Chargers,Hamilton’s Porsches, Gricey’s A9X and a trbute to Kiwi hero, Chris Amon.

Columns
Fred Gibson reflects on the great leaders of the Ford Motor Companyin Australia. Meanwhile, Paul Gover recalls the Blue Oval’s Sydney andBrisbane assembly plants.

Cars That Won Bathurst
The 1996 Great Race changed local touring car racing forever. It toppedoff an incredible year for the winning chassis, HRT 033, while elevatingLowndes, Murphy and the team to superstar status.

Muscle Men
It’s 30 years since the most-capped combination in Bathurst history appearedon the touring car scene. AMC caught up with perennial privateers, TrevorAshby and Steve Reed.

HO Phase Autos
The late Wayne Draper faced many obstacles in bringing his automotivedreams to reality, but now a small band of enthusiasts are ensuring his musclecar legacy lives on.

Targa Muscle
AMC samples tarmac rallying aboard a mighty Mustang – on some of the bestroads, and varied weather, this country has to offer – in the Lake MountainSprint. Bring your jacket though.

V8 Sleuth
Another ‘Race of Champions’ HDT Commodore from the 1980 AGP meetingat Calder has popped up. After a 20-year hiatus, it’s ready for JB again.

R-Rated
We speak to Mike Todd, son of the remarkable Sir John Todd, a hero toChrysler enthusiasts in NZ; and wonder how Chrysler Australia would havefared under Sir John’s entrepreneurial leadership.

Round Oz vans
The unsung heroes of Holden’s stunning 1-2-3 win in the 1979 Repco RoundAustralia Trial were a trio of Holden’s V8 panel vans. They and their crews didit as tough as the ‘star-cars’ they supported.

TA2
The name ‘TA2’ might sound like the follow-up to an Arnold Schwartzeneggerblockbuster, but it’s actually the moniker for a sequel to the iconic Trans-AmSeries – and it’s coming to a race track near you!

Sacred Sites
There is no other operational circuit in Australia like Mallala. It’s 55 yearssince the former RAAF base first hosted a race and is still flying the flag forgrassroots motorsport.

Out of Action
Overlooked, overcooked and ‘over-chooked’ – (barely) surviving classics fromour motoring past, sniffed out by AMC readers.